Journalists write "knowingly" on the situation in Israel without ever living here; without first hand knowledge of what it means to live in this tiny country in the midst of a rather unfriendly neighbourhood.
I write without vengeance, without hatred, just what I experience,the view from my veranda and the thoughts in my head.
My archive is available at www.lingomatics.com/Shabbatshalom/index.html

About Me

I am a freelance journalist living in Jerusalem. I strive to tell the truth as it is never seen in the media - the life of one Israeli trying to get along with everyone but not willing to deny her past nor her identity.

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

180418 Israel 70

180418

18th April
2018

Yom Ha Zikaron

Remembrance Day for the
fallen in battle and terrorism.

Today politics are
irrelevant. Today we mourn those who died defending us.

From nightfall yesterday
until nightfall tonight the names of those killed through hatred will be shown
upon our television screens, one at a time, their names and their photographs.
Families will tell their stories because they mustn't be forgotten.

Israel's war is
different on so many levels. Our enemy is not thousands of miles away, he is on
our doorstep and he is within. Of course Tolerance – sovlanut can win through,
but it is a long and difficult process.

I cannot but mention
that there are two sectors of Israeli society which do not honour this day; who
do not stand to attention during the wail of the siren – but even that is
beginning to change.

Last night Zvi, Jill and
I went to an extraordinarily Israeli event. The plant nursery in the Botanical
Gardens clears space for some 300 people who sing songs written about our loss,
beautiful songs, sad songs, special songs – some of which came with a personal
story, all of which have a story.

In Israel we sing sad
songs, we release our anger and grief through poetry and song, we tell our
stories.

It all begins with a
ceremony at the Western Wall, to which the families of those who died are
invited – from the War of Independence, through the War of Attrition, 6 Day
War, Yom Kippur, Lebanon 1 and 2 and the many battles in between. It is truly
incredible that there are not more.

The day of mourning ends
at nightfall when the entire atmosphere changes on a pin. As the last soldiers
march out of the amphitheatre of Mount Herzl, the flag bearing soldiers march in
and the celebrations begin. Dancing, singing, marching, music fireworks and
sheer joy……….. we paid the price, we paid dearly, but here we are not just
standing but thriving and giving to the world. We have a truly magnificent
society, we tend to moan a lot but that's a privilege that only democracy can
achieve.

Tonight will be extra
special for me because I am going to the ceremony with my incredible
grand-daughter Talia. I am so proud of her. She is a feisty strong young woman,
at 11 she is thoughtful beyond her years and very proud to be an Israeli. She
has also been driving Saba Zvi crazy for a whole year to get her into the
celebratory ceremony!!! After all this year Israel is 70!

What is it that drives
us? Why are we so determined to survive and enjoy every second of life? What
makes us the people who love to go out to cinemas, theatres, each others homes,
parks and have a deep curiosity for other cultures and our own diverse land? I
don't know but the joie de vivre, the love of fun……………..

Tell em another country
where the President has an idea, a city invites 12,000 strangers to an
auditorium to sing and they all not only turn up but sing in glorious harmony
the most important song in the country!!!

Shiri Maimon sings the
famous song, the last song of Yitzchak Rabin before he was cruelly assassinated
– the name is Song to Peace. The exceptional aspect of this song is that
thousands of soldiers are singing to peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5wRdxBXgI

I must get ready because
Talia will be here soon. My eldest grand-daughter almost 12 and I am so proud
to be going with her.

Tomorrow is a day of
fun, barbeques……so many barbeques! The whole country celebrates.

Then we come to Shabbat
and the Hariton Family who are coming for Shabbat Dinner. I am so excited!!
Flory and Paul are old friends of Zvi's, from the days of Venezuela Keren
Hayesod through to Florida, and I am proud to have been taken into the family!!
They are here with their children and spouses which is double exciting! The
lovely Michael Meir is coming too and of course Jill, who is one of the family –
and Amiad and Noga and the children………. That's it for now!! We will be just 16
for dinner which as you know is a mere drop in the ocean for me……….. or drop in
the chicken soup!!

Mazal Tov to our
incredible country. Thank you for giving me a home that fulfills and challenges
me, doesn't allow me to become complacent, insists I care for my fellow man and
allows me to sing her praises because she is worthy.

Thank you especially for
the two, no three, most exceptional new soldiers I know. Yahya Mahamid left his
family in Umm El Fahem, was threatened with death but chose to love his
country, serve Standwithus and then enlist in the IDF, his photographs show an
entirely happy young man. The same with Mohammed Soabi (yes the cousin of MK
Haneen) who together with his Mother and of course Standwithus, also enlisted
recently – and of course our special and wonderful young man Tomer Silver, who
although not connected by blood is our family and we love him. May they come
home safely after serving their country with honour.